2/25/26 A ailing rabbit with tattered coat. I wonder if she has turned a year old yet? Perhaps, once upon a time, it was healthy enough to run and frolic freely. Now, however, she is frequently chased away and struggles desperately just to secure a morsel of food.On that particular day—perhaps sensing that its chances were slim if it merely kept reaching up from the ground—she climbed all the way onto the table where my bag sat, filled with various treats. As it happened, th

baby rabbit is too fragile to survive on the island 2/22/26, It’s almost like a roll of dice for someone like this little one to survive on this island.

left side of his face right side of his face 2/22/26 In the environment of Okunoshima—where no one takes responsibility for the lives of the animals—can the acts of feeding and providing water truly be justified? Are these actions genuinely in the best interest of the rabbits? Although Okunoshima falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry has explicitly stated that it does not manage the rabbits. By "not managing," they naturally mean that t

2/19/26 How much do you really know about Okunoshima? Is it just a fun place filled with rabbits? That is likely the only image you have of it. The rabbits on Okunoshima are not managed by anyone; they are, in effect, left to roam wild. The rabbits dig burrows and sleep deep within the thickets. Whether the weather is hot or cold, they have little protection from the elements. It is inevitable that their health will deteriorate during periods of extreme heat or severe winter

sick baby rabbit with severe infection 2/14/26 Those who harbor animosity toward the medical rescue efforts on Okunoshima often cite the signs posted on the island. It was a very long time ago that this particular sign was created by the Rabbit Committee. At the time it was made, medical rescues were surely an unforeseen scenario. In fact, because we took the wording of this sign at face value, we have effectively left many rabbits to die. I believe the instruction "Please d

2/4/26 Sick rabbit 2/12/26 Myth about Ohkunoshima Some people say rabbits are free and happy on Ohkunoshima (Rabbit Island). Did you actually watch how they live? There is no one managing these rabbits. They are not even wild rabbits, but offspring of dumped housed rabbits. Takehara City where this island is located depends on volunteers to provide water (and maybe food) for rabbits and pick up garbages. Volunteers are exploited as well just like rabbits are exploited. Rabbi

Rabbit called "Little Boss" in June 2024 2/4/26 There are people who are lobbying against medical rescue from Ohkunoshima even after 19 months of rescue activities. They claim some rescued rabbits still die despite the treatment off the island. Most of the rescued rabbits in the last 19 months were in serious condition and some cases were almost a miracle for them to make full recovery. How on earth do they oppose to saving lives? What kind of people are they? If left on the

1/11/26 "Living robustly amidst nature"—this is a phrase frequently seen on social media used to describe the rabbits of Okunoshima Island. However, in reality, these rabbits—who receive no genuine care or management—are merely tragic creatures. Buffeted by their own natural instincts and forced to endure harsh weather conditions, they exist solely to be consumed as tourist attractions. Anyone who has ever kept rabbits will recognize the tell-tale signs: rabbits with vacant,

rabbit got his nose bitten by other rabbit 12/31/25 One big factor to injuries and sickness is FIGHTS AMONG RABBITS. These rabbits are left on the island totally unmanaged and they form their own territories. Consequently, they constantly fight inside/outside their territories. They fought when there were 1000 rabbits 10 years ago and even when there are only 300 left today, they still fight. Attacked rabbits suffer from severe injuries and die from infection or predator atta

baby rabbit on the verge of death due to with gastric stasis 12/18/25 Okunoshima—an island that acts in direct opposition to the spirit of animal welfare. Marketed as a place teeming with rabbits, it has become a tourist destination that any rabbit lover would undoubtedly dream of visiting. But what is the reality behind the hype? The rabbits run freely across the island; upon spotting a human, they approach just like dogs, begging for food. This behavior—so distinct from th

Pururu (Cheeky) chan had Periapical abscess, lung abscess, jaw bone dissolved. Mahiro had Traumatic Suppurative Periarthritis Kiki had neck and jawbone shattered leaving him with malocclusion that needs periodic dental treatment. 12/12/25 Do not forget Ohkunoshima is a tourist spot at the expense for lives of rabbits. Medical conditions of rabbits on Ohkunoshima are frequently overlooked. Pururu (Cheeky)(rescued in Sept 24) had a balloon like lump on her cheek. Initially,

baby rabbit immobilized due to GI stasis 11/24/25 If the Ministry of the Environment truly believes that simply leaving the rabbits "to nature"—as they put it—while tourists interact with them out of good intentions, will result in a smooth flow of tourism revenue for Takehara City, then they are engaging in a misguided, amateurish form of animal-based tourism. Nowhere else can you find a place where you can approach such adorable rabbits without any fences or barriers, and f

Severe nasal infection prevents him from eating Rabbit could barely breathe 10/30/25 The rabbits of Okunoshima Island are designated by the Ministry of the Environment as "Priority Invasive Alien Species for Control" on its list of invasive species that pose a risk to ecosystems. Given that domestic rabbits were abandoned on the island decades ago, it is perhaps not surprising that they are treated as "invasive alien species." Even when rabbits on the island are sick or injur

almost paralyzed waist down injured rabbit will keep distance from healthy rabbits 10/21/25 In summer of 2022, a charcoal gray rabbit was called Garigari (means extremely skinny). She lived in pier 2 of Ohkunoshima where visitors parked their cars. No one knows how she got injured. Some say she was run over by a car being parked or bicycle. Her hips and hind leg were severely damaged. Her back bone was warped and she appeared to drag her entire body sideways when she moved. L

Not a single yen from tourism goes to Rabbits on Ohkunoshima Who is responsible for these rabbits? 10/15/25 Okunoshima. It is an island that once housed a poison gas factory during World War II; however, it has since become a small island inhabited by a multitude of rabbits—descendants of those abandoned there years ago, who subsequently bred unchecked over many generations. For a long time, it remained a "hidden gem"—an island known only to a select few as a home for rabbits

We called her "fly girl" as this female rabbit had flies constantly flying all around her You could tell she was extremely sick She was the sweetest rabbit I ever met on Ohkunoshima 10/11/25 There used to be a sick female rabbit at pier 2 of Ohkunoshima back in summer of 2022. We used to call her Fly Girl. She had the black rabbit as her partner but flies were constantly flying all over her body. We suspected she had issues with her intestines. She was abnormally underweight

No one knew how sick Oreo (Clara chan) was Nasal and middle ear osteolysis, high probability of hearing loss, missing molars, severe Pasteurellosis. 9/25/25 I first laid eyes on Oreo around late February 2024. She was a fluffy black-and-white rabbit. She was likely born near the building situated on the ocean side of the swimming pool. I often saw her darting back and forth from the vicinity of the wire fence toward the open plaza. What on earth is that? As a baby, Oreo look

Fracture of the right foreleg; severe pneumonia; severe pasteurellosis; inflammation of the external and middle ear; laceration of the left ear caused by a sharp object He had to be hospitalized for one month to treat his conditions 9/17/25 Criticism—specifically the accusation that we are "tearing families apart"—is sometimes leveled against our efforts to rescue injured and ailing rabbits on Okunoshima Island. However, once a rabbit sustains an injury, it becomes so profoun

Sora with multiple medical issue before resuce 800g Kuran rescued for leg injury but actually had chronic hepatitis and pulmonary edema. She suddenly passed away after rescue. a rabbit with left leg injury 9/16/25 “Living Freely, Carefree, and Happily” Tourists often find it adorable—and exciting—to see rabbits rushing toward them, devouring the food offered to them with such gusto, and this leaves them feeling that they want to return to visit again. However, the tourists wh

Ran chan on the island before rescue 4/14/25 Rabbits run up to you. That behavior is exactly what entices people to keep coming back to Ohkunoshima. But, if you really think about this, they run up to you simply because they are hungry, not that they love you. I asked rabbit owners who commute to this island a question many times. Why do you come to this island? You already own rabbits(s) at home? They told me, these rabbits are special. They make me feel they need me. They h